jamesclavell.noblehouse-第7章

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materialized　out　of　the　darkness　and　took　them　from　her。　〃Linc'll　e　later　。。。　or　tomorrow。〃
　John　Chen　gawked　at　her。　〃Mr。　Bartlett's　not　ing？〃
　〃No。　He's　going　to　stay　in　the　airplane　overnight　if　he　can　get　permission。　If　not；　he'll　follow　us　by　cab。　In　any　event　he'll　join　us　tomorrow　for　lunch　as　arranged。　Lunch　is　still　on；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Oh　yes；　but　。。。〃　John　Chen　was　trying　to　get　his　mind　working。　〃Then　you'll　want　to　cancel　the　10　a。m。　meeting？〃
　〃Oh　no。　I'll　attend　that　as　arranged。　Linc　wasn't　expected　at　that　meeting。　That's　just　financing　…　not　policy。　I'm　sure　you　understand。　Linc's　very　tired；　Mr。　Chen；〃　she　said。　〃He　just　got　back　yesterday　from　Europe。〃　She　looked　back　at　Armstrong。　〃The　captain　asked　the　tower　if　Linc　could　sleep　in；　Superintendent。　They　checked　with　Immigration　who　said　they'd　get　back　to　us　but　I　presume　our　request'll　e　through　channels　to　you。　We'd　certainly　appreciate　it　if　you'd　approve。　He's　really　been　on　the　jet　lag　trail　for　too　long。〃
　Armstrong　found　himself　saying；　〃I'll　chat　with　him　about　it。〃
　〃Oh　thanks。　Thanks　very　much；〃　she　said；　and　then　to　John　Chen；　〃Sorry　for　all　this　trouble；　Mr。　Chen。　Shall　we　go？〃　She　began　to　head　for　Gate　16；　the　porter　following；　but　John　Chen　pointed　to　his　Rolls。　〃No；　this　way；　Miss　Tchu　…　er；　Casey。〃
　Her　eyes　widened。　〃No　Customs？〃
　〃Not　tonight；〃　Armstrong　said；　liking　her。　〃A　present　from　Her　Majesty's　Government。〃
　〃I　feel　like　visiting　royalty。〃
　〃All　part　of　the　service。〃
　She　got　into　the　car。　Lovely　smell　of　leather。　And　luxury。　Then　she　saw　the　porter　hurrying　through　the　gate　into　the　terminal　building。　〃But　what　about　my　bags？〃
　〃No　need　to　worry　about　those；〃　John　Chen　said　irritably。　〃They'll　be　in　your　suite　before　you　are。〃
　Armstrong　held　on　to　the　door　for　a　moment。　〃John　came　with　two　cars。　One　for　you　and　Mr。　Bartlett　…　the　other　for　luggage。〃
　〃Two　cars？〃
　〃Of　course。　Don't　forget　you're　in　Hong　Kong　now。〃
　He　watched　the　car　drive　off。　Linc　Bartlett's　a　lucky　man；　he　thought；　and　wondered　absently　why　Special　Intelligence　was　interested　in　her。
　〃Just　meet　the　airplane　and　go　through　her　passport　personally；〃　the　director　of　SI　had　told　him　this　morning。　〃And　Mr。　Lincoln　Bartlett's。〃
　〃May　I　ask　why；　sir？〃
　〃No；　Robert；　you　may　not　ask　why。　You're　no　longer　in　this　branch　…　you're　in　a　nice　cushy　job　at　Kowloon。　A　positive　sinecure；　what？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃And　Robert；　kindly　don't　balls　up　this　operation　tonight　…　there　may　be　a　lot　of　very　big　names　involved。　We　go　to　a　great　deal　of　trouble　to　keep　you　fellows　abreast　of　what　the　nasties　are　doing。〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　Armstrong　sighed　as　he　walked　up　the　gangway　followed　by　Sergeant　Lee。　Dew　neh　loh　moh　on　all　senior　officers；　particularly　the　director　of　SI。
　One　of　the　Customs　officials　was　waiting　at　the　top　of　the　gangway　with　Svensen。　〃Evening；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃Everything's　shipshape　aboard。　There's　a　。38　with　a　box　of　a　hundred　shells　unopened　as　part　of　ship's　stores。　A　Verey　Light　pistol。　Also　three　hunting　rifles　and　a　twelve…bore　with　ammo　belonging　to　Mr。　Bartlett。　They're　all　listed　on　the　manifest　and　I　inspected　them。　There's　a　locked　gun　cabinet　in　the　main　cabin。　Captain　has　the　key。〃
　〃Good。〃
　〃You　need　me　anymore；　sir？〃
　〃No；　thanks。〃　Armstrong　took　the　airplane's　manifest　and　began　to　check　it。　Lots　of　wine；　cigarettes；　tobacco；　beer　and　spirits。　Ten　cases　of　Dom　Pérignon　'59；　fifteen　Puligny　Montrachet　'53；　nine　Chateau　Haut　Brion　'53。　〃No　Lafite　Rothschild　1916；　Mr。　Svensen？〃　he　said　with　a　small　smile。
　〃No　sir。〃　Svensen　grinned。　〃　'16　was　a　very　bad　year。　But　there's　half　a　case　of　the　1923。　It's　on　the　next　page。〃
　Armstrong　nipped　the　page。　More　wines　and　the　cigars　were　listed。　〃Good；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course　all　this　is　in　bond　while　you're　on　the　ground。〃
　〃Yes　sir。　I'd　already　locked　it　…　your　man's　tagged　it。　He　said　it　was　okay　to　leave　a　twelve…pack　of　beer　in　the　cooler。〃
　〃If　the　owner　wants　to　import　any　of　the　wines；　just　let　me　know。　There's　no　fuss　and　just　a　modest　contribution　to　Her　Majesty's　bottom　drawer。〃
　〃Sir？〃　Svensen　was　perplexed。
　〃Eh？　Oh；　just　an　English　pun。　Refers　to　a　lady's　bottom　drawer　in　a　chest　of　drawers　…　where　she　puts　away　the　things　she　needs　in　the　future。　Sorry。　Your　passport　please。〃　Svensen's　passport　was　Canadian。　〃Thanks。〃
　〃May　I　introduce　you　to　Mr。　Bartlett？　He's　waiting　for　you。〃
　Svensen　led　the　way　into　the　airplane。　The　interior　was　elegant　and　simple。　Right　off　the　small　hallway　was　a　sitting　area　with　half　a　dozen　deep　leather　chairs　and　a　sofa。　A　central　door　closed　off　the　rest　of　the　airplane；　aft。　In　one　of　the　chairs　a　stewardess　was　half　asleep；　her　travel　bags　beside　her。　Left　was　the　cockpit　door。　It　was　open。
　The　captain　and　first　officer/copilot　were　in　their　seats；　still　going　through　their　paper　work。
　〃Excuse　me；　Captain。　This　is　Superintendent　Armstrong；〃　Svensen　said；　and　stepped　aside。
　〃Evening；　Superintendent；〃　the　captain　said。　〃I'm　Captain　Jannelli　and　this's　my　copilot；　Bill　O'Rourke。〃
　〃Evening。　May　I　see　your　passports　please？〃
　Both　pilots　had　massed　international　visas　and　immigration　stamps。　No　Iron　Curtain　countries。　Armstrong　handed　them　to　Sergeant　Lee　for　stamping。　〃Thank　you；　Captain。　Is　this　your　first　visit　to　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃No　sir。　I　was　here　a　couple　of　times　for　R　and　R　during　Korea。　And　I　had　a　six…month　tour　with　Far　Eastern　as　first　officer　on　their　round…the…world　route　in　'56；　during　the　riots。〃
　〃What　riots？〃　O'Rourke　asked。
　〃The　whole　of　Kowloon　blew　apart。　Couple　hundred　thousand　Chinese　went　on　a　sudden　rampage；　rioting；　burning。　The　cops　…　sorry；　the　police　tried　to　settle　it　with　patience；　then　the　mobs　started　killing　so　the　cops；　police；　they　got　out　a　couple　of　Sten　guns　and　killed　half　a　dozen　jokers　and　everything　calmed　down　very　fast。　Only　police　have　guns　here　which　is　a　great　idea。〃　To　Armstrong　he　said；　〃I　think　your　guys　did　a　hell　of　a　job。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Captain　Jannelli。　Where　did　this　flight　emanate？〃
　〃L。　A。　…　Los　Angeles。　Linc's　…　Mr。　Bartlett's　head　office's　there。〃
　〃Your　route　was　Honolulu；　Tokyo；　Hong　Kong？〃
　〃Yes　sir。〃
　〃How　long　did　you　stop　in　Tokyo？〃
　Bill　O'Rourke　turned　up　the　flight　log　at　once。　〃Two　hours　and　seventeen　minutes。　Just　a　refueling　stop；　sir。〃
　〃Just　enough　time　to　stretch　your　legs？〃
　Jannelli　said；　〃I　was　the　only　one　who　got　out。　I　always　check　my　gear；　the　landing　gear；　and　do　an　exterior　inspection　whenever　we　land。〃
　〃That's　a　good　habit；〃　the　policeman　said　politely。　〃How　long　are　you　staying？〃
　〃Don't　know；　that's　up　to　Linc。　Certainly　overnight。　We　couldn't　leave　before　1400。　Our　orders're　just　to　be　ready　to　go　anywhere　at　any　time。〃
　〃You've　a　fine　aircraft；　Captain。　You're　approved　to　stay　here　till　1400。　If　you　want　an　extension；　call　Ground　Control　before　that　time。　When　you're　ready；　just　clear　Customs　through　that　gate。　And　would　you　clear　all　your　crew　together；　please。〃
　〃Sure。　Soon　as　we're　refueled。〃
　〃You　and　all　your　crew　know　the　importing　of　any　firearms　into　the　Colony　is　absolutely　forbidden？　We're　very　nervous　about　firearms　in　Hong　Kong。〃
　〃So　am　I；　Superintendent　…　anywhere。　That's　why　I've　the　only　key　to　the　gun　cabinet。〃
　〃Good。　Any　problems；　please　check　with　my　office。〃　Armstrong　left　and　went　into　the　anteroom；　Svensen　just　ahead。
　Jannelli　watched　him　inspect　the　air　hostess's　passport。　She　was　pretty；　Jenny　Pollard。　〃Son　of　a　bitch；〃　he　muttered；　then　added　quietly；　〃Something　stinks　around　here。〃
　〃Huh？〃
　〃Since　when　does　CID　brass　check　goddamn　passports　for　chrissake？　You　sure　we're　not　carrying　anything　curious？〃
　〃Hell　no。　I　always　check　everything。　Including　Sven's　stores。　Of　course　I　don't　go　through　Linc's　stuff　…　or　Casey's　…　but　they　wouldn't　do　anything　stupid。〃
　〃I've　flown　him　for　four　years　and　never　once　。。。　Even　so；　something　sure　as　hell　stinks。〃　Jannelli　wearily　twisted　and　settled　himself　in　his　pilot's　seat　more　fortably。　〃Jesus；　I　could　use　a　massage　and　a　week　off。〃
　In　the　anteroom　Armstrong　was　handing　the　passport　to　Sergeant　Lee　who　stamped　it。　'Thank　you；　Miss　Pollard。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃That's　all　the　crew；　sir；〃　Svensen　said。　〃Now　Mr。　B